Deanna Leedy

Day 23

States: Utah, Idaho, Montana

Sites seen: we drove through several national forests to get here but we did not do any sightseeing today.

A story

I am afraid of bears. Like for real afraid of bears. I know what you’re asking, and no, I have never had a bear encounter, but this is not stopping me. I have been afraid of bears since I was little. Growing up, my grandparents lived sort of out in the middle of nowhere. I was sure there were bears there and when we had pulled into the driveway and parked the car, I would wait until everyone was inside and I would sprint as fast as I could into the house so the bears couldn’t get me. As we got older and they thought I was more and more ridiculous, my loving family would lock the door behind them and watch me panic as they left me out on the porch for the bears to get me. Not nice, guys, not nice.

All of this to tell you that we have arrived in bear country. We were given very specific instructions upon checking into our campsite about what to do with our trash (throw it away in the covered barrels every night) and what to do with our coolers and food (leave them locked in the car) and were told not to eat in our tents. I am taking all of this very seriously!

Travel day

Today was our first travel day in a while where we haven’t done any touristy things on the way. It wasn’t a long drive from Salt Lake City to the west gate side of Yellowstone where we are staying. It is much cooler here (already 75° at 4:30 in the afternoon) than anywhere else we have been and it is supposed to drop into the 50s tonight. I figure we are going to freeze to death after all of the 100+ days we’ve had lately but it will be a nice change to actually need the sleeping bags!

After we set up camp, Asia and josh went for a quick swim and then it was on to the basketball court.

I was hoping to get an oil change as well as a car wash and a sweeping out of the inside of the car while we’re doing other mundane tasks this afternoon (like laundry and resorting our clothes) but of course there isn’t anything close by. So my poor car will have to remain filthy for a few more days (picture doesn’t do it justice- it is coated in a lovely layer of dirt).